ABSTRACT
The mental health of children of refugees can be affected by experiences of loss, separation, stress, and the various psychological impacts of uncertainties brought about by the refugee experience, including attempts to integrate into a new society and culture. It is important to note that some key aspects of British Immigration Rules create insecurity and further stress when children reach adult age. The pervasiveness of torture and abuse of children in many parts of the world reaches beyond any other kind of trauma experienced by human beings. For many children of refugees, when education is provided the quality is often poor, and discrimination, particularly due to language and cultural differences, can significantly affect their educational experience. On the contrary, children who stay in education and learn the English language very fast frequently become the main family interpreter, both within schools and in other institutional arenas, including the asylum system.
